Mithradates

<p><strong>Mithridates</strong> or <strong>Mithradates VI Eupator</strong> (<a title="Greek language" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language">Greek</a>: <span lang="grc" title="Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text" xml:lang= "grc"><a class="extiw" title="wikt:Μιθραδάτης" href= "https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CE%B9%CE%B8%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B4%CE%AC%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82">Μιθραδάτης</a></span>;<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridates_VI_Eupator#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> 135–63 BC) was ruler of the <a class="mw-redirect" title= "Hellenistic Period" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Period">Hellenistic</a> <a title="Kingdom of Pontus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Pontus">Kingdom of Pontus</a> in northern <a title="Anatolia" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatolia">Anatolia</a> from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the <a title="Roman Republic" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic">Roman Republic</a>'s most formidable and determined opponents. He was an effective, ambitious and ruthless ruler who sought to dominate <a class= "mw-redirect" title="Asia Minor" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor">Asia Minor</a> and the <a title="Black Sea" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea">Black Sea</a> region, waging several hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful wars (the <a title="Mithridatic Wars" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatic_Wars">Mithridatic Wars</a>) to break Roman dominion over Asia and the Hellenic world.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridates_VI_Eupator#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> He has been called the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridates_VI_Eupator#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> After his death he became known as <strong>Mithridates the Great</strong>; due to his affinity for poison he has also been called "The Poison King".<br /> <br